Cementitious precast construction unit

ABSTRACT

A precast unit, preferably of cementitious material, of circular outline having stone-like block units on the outer surface separated by mortar joints and top shoulder annular portions to serve as a guide to enable stacking like units above each other. The inner surface of each unit and outer surface of each projection extend in a downwardly and outwardly extending direction to provide a stepped inner wall.

United States Patent [191 Coffman June 18, 1974 CEMENTITIOUS PRECAST CONSTRUCTION UNIT [76] Inventor: Homer R. Coffman, Blanchard Ln.,

North Versailles, Pa.

[22] Filed: Jan. 18, 1973 21 1 AppL No.: 324,773

[52] US. Cl. 138/155 [51] Int. Cl. F161 25/00 [58] Field of Search 138/155, 175; 52/747 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,195,738 7/1965 Larkfeldt et a1. 138/175 X 3,350,827 11/1967 Sugar ..52/747X Primary Examiner-Jerry W. Myracle [5 7] ABSTRACT A precast unit, preferably of cementitious material, of circular outline having stone-like block units on the outer surface separated by mortar joints and top shoulder annular portions to serve as a guide to enable stacking like units above each other. The inner surface of each unit and outer surface of each projection extend in a downwardly and outwardly extending direction to provide a stepped inner wall.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1 7 CEMENTITIOUS PRECAST CONSTRUCTION UNIT This invention relates to a precast stone-like construction unit and, more particularly, to a cast cementitious unit of circular outline that may be easily assembled by stacking.

An outstanding disadvantage of conventionally used precast construction units is that they are relatively small, as compared to the completed wall, and they do not give sufiicient variety in appearance of the respective courses of the wall, therefore they do not look like a manually constructed wall.

Another disadvantage of precast construction units is that they are not easily and quickly assembled and require a degree of precision in assembly.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel precast building construction unit which will overcome the above named disadvantages and which is of relatively large size and can be assembled very easily and quickly, simply by stacking.

Another object of my invention is to provide a variety of patterns in the precast building blocks of each course of a stacked multiple number of courses simply by slightly turning each successive course so that repetition occurs only every fourth course or so.

Other objects and advantages will become more apparent from a study of the following description taken with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan or top view of a circular precast building block unit embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational of plan view thereof; and,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken along line lll lll of lflg. 1:

Referring more particularly to the drawing, numeral 1 generally denotes a single precast cementitious unit of annular form, which is adapted to be stacked on similar units, in the manner shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, to provide a hollow cylindrical vertical wall assembly. Each annular unit 1 has molded on the outer perimeter 2 a shape similar to that of stone (or possible brick). By molding vertical mortar joints 3 and inset horizontal mortar joints 4 (which are also precast), the unit 1 gives the appearance of a series of stones (or bricks) laid along an annular course. Slanted mortar joints 3 are also provided.

It will be especially noted that while only one design of stone is cast, it is possible to provide the appearance of four (or more) different designs as having been cast, simply by turning each course 90 (or less) from the preceding course so as to give the pattern shown in FIG. 2. Of course, succeeding courses could be turned to angles of less than 90 or more than 90,depending upon the design desired, that is, depending on when a given design will repeat itself as viewed from a particu t R9 iti9 7 7 7 7 7 7. 77 77 .7

Another outstanding feature of this invention resides in the stepped construction of the inner wall 6 of the respective annular units, which wall slants downwardly and slightly outwardly of the longitudinal axis. Each unit has a shoulder from which emerges, upwardly, projections 7 of annular outline for providing a stop to prevent lateral sliding of the respective annular units in any direction horizontally. It should also be noted that projection 7 has inclined outer and inner walls which are in parallel relationship. 7

The above arrangement makes it extremely easy to stack one annular unit above another since the projections 7 serve as guides for accurately positioning each unit in place relative to the next lower unit.

If desired, mortar or grouting can be inserted on shoulder 5 before the next higher annular unit is stacked in place.

An important resulting feature from the above construction is that rain, snow or ice will not readily enter the joint between projection 7 and the adjoining bottom portion of the next higher circular unit.

While a stone-like facing 2 is illustrated and a white like cement is contemplated for the casting of each unit of circular outline to simulate stone,-it will be readily apparent that such unit may be cast so as to simulate bricks if the cementitious material is colored reddish, similar to brick, and is molded or shaped to simulate the outer surface of bricks.

While a circular outline has been illustrated, it will be readily apparent that a rectangular or square outline may be used instead, in which event the successive rows are turned relative to each other so that the pattern of the square unit will not repeat until after the fourth course.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a highly efficient cementitious construction unit preferably of circular outline that gives the appearance of a series of concrete blocks, hand laid in circular rows with different patterns for each row or course; furthermore, l have provided an annular cementitious construction unit simulating a series of circular laid stone blocks and having downwardly and outwardly inclined inner wall surfaces which have upwardly projecting circular portions which serve as guides for facilitating stacking one circular unit over another, also which serve to give added strength against heavy lateral wind pressures or foces because of the interlocking of the respective courses.

While I have illustrated and described a single specific embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that this is by way of illustration only and that various changes and modifications may be contemplated in my invention and within the scope of the following claims. Moreover, while I have described a cementitious precast unit, it may be instead, a precast unit of plastic, foam or other suitable materials.

lslaim 1. A one j'ieepi b'st construction unit in the form of a block of closed loop outline for stacking on similar blocks, comprising a plurality of integral stone-like block portions extending along the peripheral outer surface thereof, said surface having an insert notch at the top thereof to similate a peripherally extending mortar joint, said unit having an upstanding peripheral projection on its inner wall to serve as a guide for stacking like units above each other, the inner wall of said unit extending in a downwardly and outwardly direction to provide a stepped inner wall surface when like units are stacked, said projection serving as a guide and inner stop member for positioning the bottom portion of the unit stacked above.

2. A wall comprising a plurality of stacked units of the construction recited in claim 1 wherein the block portions of each unit are peripherally offset relative to those of adjoining upper and lower units, whereby the appearance of a stone wall of closed loop outline is p virl s 

1. A one piece pre-cast construction unit in the form of a block for stacking on similar blocks, comprising a plurality of integral stone-like block portions extending along the peripheral outer surface thereof, said surface having an insert notch at the top thereof to similate a extending mortar joint, said unit having an upstanding peripheral projection on its inner wall to serve as a guide for stacking like units above each other, the inner wall of said unit extending in a downwardly and outwardly direction to provide a stepped inner wall surface when like units are stacked, said projection serving as a guide and inner stop member for positioning the bottom portion of the unit stacked above.
 2. A wall comprising a plurality of stacked units of the construction recited in claim 1 wherein the block portions of each unit are peripherally offset relative to those of adjoining upper and lower units, whereby the appearance of a stone wall is provided. 